AI in Australia Economic Blueprint
REPORT

AI in Australia Economic Blueprint

clock

30.06.2025 - 08:00

Technology

OpenAI’s Economic Blueprint outlines how Australia can harness artificial intelligence (AI) to significantly boost economic prosperity, enhance public services, and position itself as a leader for AI in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia’s economic growth has slowed due to declining productivity, which currently lags 18% behind the United States, primarily due to underinvestment and slow adoption of digital technologies. AI presents an unprecedented opportunity to reverse this trend, with potential annual economic gains of A$115 billion by 2030, mainly from productivity improvements. AI tools are already widely adopted globally and in Australia, enhancing efficiency and enabling innovation in sectors ranging from healthcare and education to agriculture and public services.

portableText image

In education, Australian academic performance has declined, with significant gaps between rural and metropolitan students. AI tools can bridge these gaps through personalised learning and reduced administrative burdens on teachers, allowing more time for student engagement. South Australia and institutions like UNSW already demonstrate successful AI integration in education, suggesting the potential of wider implementation.

For government services, productivity stagnation has led to increased costs and inefficiencies. AI can significantly improve service delivery, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance public engagement. Examples from the United States and Singapore illustrate the benefits of adopting AI in public services, including reduced wait times and more efficient operations.

Infrastructure investment in AI, particularly data centres, is critical for Australia's future economic resilience. Australia’s capacity for digital infrastructure is expected to more than double by 2030, creating over 8,000 extra jobs and catalysing further economic transformation. Strategic investments in AI infrastructure could position Australia as a key hub in the Indo-Pacific, supporting regional interoperability, innovation, and security.

portableText image

To realise these benefits, the report outlines a 10-point AI Action Plan that includes rolling out nationwide AI skills training, offering targeted incentives for business adoption, embedding AI literacy in schools and universities, modernising government services, and investing in AI-ready infrastructure. The report stresses the importance of proactive policy settings to avoid falling behind global competitors.

The blueprint concludes by emphasising the necessity for coordinated action among government, business, and civil society. It highlights Australia’s opportunity not just to adapt to the AI era but to actively shape it, fostering inclusive economic growth and strengthening regional cooperation.

Read the full Blueprint here.

Read our latest posts

Climate Risk Index for the European Energy Sector
ClimateEnergy transition

Climate Risk Index for the European Energy Sector

Mandala Partners in partnership with Zurich Resilience Solutions has produced Europe's first comprehensive Climate Risk Index for renewable energy infrastructure across five major European markets. This groundbreaking analysis reveals the scale of climate vulnerability facing Europe's clean energy transition and provides actionable insights for building resilience across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Nearly half of Europe's renewable generation capacity is in critical climate risk categories, threatening the foundation of the continent's energy security and economic stability.

16 Jul, 2025

Shock Resistant
Workforce

Shock Resistant

Shock Resistant outlines novel insights into the ways that platform workers in the US used platform work as a strategy for mitigating the impacts of the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

2 Jul, 2025

AI in Australia Economic Blueprint
Technology

AI in Australia Economic Blueprint

OpenAI’s Economic Blueprint outlines how Australia can harness artificial intelligence (AI) to significantly boost economic prosperity, enhance public services, and position itself as a leader for AI in the Indo-Pacific region.

30 Jun, 2025

The economic and strategic importance of multi-metals processing
Critical minerals

The economic and strategic importance of multi-metals processing

Mandala was commissioned by Nyrstar to provide an independent summary of the significance of lead and zinc refining in Australia. This report finds that Australia’s existing capabilities are a gateway to domestic critical minerals processing, but fundamental shifts in the global industrial policy landscape are undermining Australia’s current and future processing capabilities.

27 May, 2025

Loading...